Cars have become too expensive.
In 2024, the average new car rolled off the lot with a price tag over $48,000 -- a staggering $11,000 jump compared to just seven years ago.
But the sticker shock doesn't stop at the dealership.
Drivers today are also grappling with rising insurance premiums, unpredictable gas prices, higher registration fees, and soaring repair and maintenance costs.
Research shared with the Daily Mail analyzed the 50 best-selling cars in the US between 2022 and 2024.
The study from Self, a financial tech and credit company, broke down what it really costs to own them over time based on the four major expenses above: fuel, insurance, registration fees and taxes.
Some of the top five best-selling cars in America were the most expensive to drive, and we cover those below too.
But first we outline those with the lowest running costs, which are a mix of small practical sedans and EVs. Here is what the data revealed:
The cheapest cars to own
Drivers might want to give EVs a second chance.
Tesla's Model 3, with a base price of $44,130 according to Car and Driver, was the top dog for driver savings over the three-year study period, while the popular Model Y, starting at $50,630, claimed seventh place.
Both Teslas benefited from significantly lower fuel costs: drivers spent around $700 to keep their batteries charged.
The cheapest fuel bill for any gas-powered vehicle in the study was still more than double that -- $1,615.
About 80 percent of EV charging happens at home, and plugging in during off-peak hours can mean major savings.
But Teslas have a distinct disadvantage in the insurance market and in showrooms. The Model 3 and Model Y were the second and third most expensive cars to insure. Only the Tesla Model S (which came in 20th place) had higher monthly premiums.
The cars also cost more to buy.
Some of America's most popular cars are extremely cheap to maintain, a study found
The rest of the top five was dominated by small, practical sedans from major Asian manufacturers.
The $23,320 Hyundai Elantra and the $23,460 Toyota Corolla took second and third place, respectively, due to their low fuel-sipping tendencies and massive parts availability.
Kia's now-discontinued Forte, which started around $21,145, came in fourth. Its successor -- the modestly priced K4, starting at $21,990 -- should yield similar results.
Honda's compact Civic sedan (from $25,400) narrowly edged out the larger $29,445 Accord, with both Japanese sedans earning fifth and sixth place.
The only hybrid in the top 13 was the Honda CR-V, a midsize SUV with a 515-mile driving range.
CR-V owners paid an average of $5,485 annually to run the vehicle -- good for tenth place overall.
Not a single model from Detroit's Big Three -- Ford, GM, or Jeep-owner Stellantis -- made the cut.
The Ford Maverick pickup, starting at $28,590, was their strongest performer, taking 14th place with a projected yearly cost of $5,849.
America's top-selling cars
Some of the most popular vehicles on American highways didn't fare too well in the study.
The most popular individual vehicle, the Toyota RAV4 SUV, starting at $30,645, took 22nd place, with an expected $6,132 annual running bill.
That figure was based on the gas-only version; the study didn't include the RAV4's hybrid or plug-in hybrid trims, which are expected to save drivers thousands in fuel.
Ford's $39,445 sales king, the F-Series pickup, came in 45th out of 50.
Drivers are projected to spend $3,276 on fuel alone each year. Factor in insurance, taxes, and maintenance, and total expected annual costs hit $7,697.
A hybrid version of the F-150, which can significantly reduce fuel costs, was also left out of the study.
The most expensive vehicle to own, according to the report, was the Chevy Tahoe.
The massive SUV sells over 100,000 units in the U.S. each year and starts above $61,195. But it'll cost you an additional $8,644 per year to keep it running.
Everything is about to change
The price to drive and own a car is on the brink of a dramatic shift.
More than half of the vehicles purchased in 2024 were imported. President Donald Trump has launched 25 percent tariffs on all foreign-built cars sold in the US.
Consumer advocates told the Daily Mail the added costs associated with the import tax will be passed directly to buyers.
'Vehicle prices will increase, no doubt,' Erin Keating, the Executive Analyst at Cox Automotive, said. 'We expect the whole industry to respond with elevated prices.'
Even cars built in the US -- which might dodge some of the steepest import fees -- aren't safe. Domestic automakers will still be affected by similar 25 percent tariffs on foreign parts and materials.
But, the cars built in the US might cut costs for drivers heading to the gas pump.
Multiple best-selling vehicles on Self's list, like the Toyota Camry, now sell exclusively as a fuel-sipping mild hybrids.